I'm Working On A Really Big Ol' Story

And it's a bit convoluted. And it's a storyline for a game I would hope to make.

See, I have a few problems. I keep on improving the story and changing characters around, so I can't seem to get a few things down. The main premise of the story is this:

THE SETTING

The setting is 2163, in a somewhat post-apocalyptic future. World War III and World War IV has led to a world inhabited by about 2 billion people, a stark contrast to the world brimming at 10 billion before the beginning of World War IV. The world is advanced, but a bit bleak and all around not amazing. Feudalism has set in, as small kingdoms take the place of the large empires of the past. Position in this world is determined by how many soldiers you can muster through a combination of the wealth of merchants, the fearmongering of warlords, or the charisma of heroes.

In the period from 2012 to 2025, a Mercenary Group known as Roma Bahini, the "Roaming Army," became headed by Hakeem Khalid, who led them to dominate in World War III's Mercenary Wars, and carve out a Muslim State in Lower Asia, eventually pulling 95% of the Muslim world under his banner. He established the first Caliphate since it's abolishment 1920. The Caliphate, along with the People's Empire of China, established itself as the dominant power in the world.

Nowadays, the Caliphate exists, but as a Shadow of itself, as the "Khalifa al-Athar," or Shadow Caliphate. The "Remnant" of the Caliphate rules much of the world, though divided. The Caliphate Remnant is made up of the descendants of the administrators of the Caliphate in it's prime, said to number 124,000 individuals and their families.

Asia is now very barren, as many Asians fled to Europe to escape the Nuclear holocaust there. Africa, having beaten it's poverty and AIDs issues in the 21st century, is now home to the dominant power, the African Empire, with several large South American states serving as the second-most dominant.

Many mercenary bands roam all across the 7 continents, hoping to re-enact the deeds of the Roma Bahini, and establish a permanent place for themselves in the world.

Three mercenary groups fight each other, pursuing their goals, but their destinies are intertwined with each other.

STUFF

There are certain elements which have a huge impact on the story.

For one, each of the characters have a unique fighting style and weapon associated with them, and they basically use a form of "scientific magic."

This magic, known in the game as Elemental powers, is a result of the nuclear weapons used in World War IV. Due to the harmful radioactive particles present in the atmosphere, two main technologies have been developed, but first up is the Elemental Capacitors.

The ECs are devices that are powered by the nuclear energies present in the atmosphere. By cleaning up the radioactivity, they also provide a powerful weapon for those who utilize the ECs. This is the scientific magic, the use of the ECs to do actions such as shooting fireballs materialized from small amounts of Plasma, to moving Liquids, Solids, or Gases around in an environment.

ECs are the most interesting device of the story, as they have industrial use, as well as use as weaponry. Characters frequently employ them, both in building bases, or rebuilding villages, or for combat.

Energy Shields, or ESs, are powerful defensive particle force fields. They trace the outline of the body they are equipped to, by projecting an energy field, and then bonding to special material, which is woven into cloth and coated on simple armor. Energy Shields repel nuclear energy, and can take repeated shots from ECs and other weapons.

ESs are an interesting visual part of the story, as the way they are worn is as belts. By design, they are basically Championship Belts, especially Pro Wrestling ones. On the faces of these belts are designs depicting the army one belongs to, or which political entity one's allegiance is given. Civilians wear small belts, while soldiers wear much bigger ones, sometimes multiple belts. Heavier troops often wear 3 or even 4 belts, while Light and Medium troops equip 1 or 2 belts, respectively. These belts are very heavy, which makes it an asset for them to be easily taken off or put on.

Due to the nature of weapons and the atmosphere in the game, having your shield destroyed or the belt taken would result in death, as either a gunshot or a sword slash or radioactivity would take your life. Thus, when someone wants to take your belt away, they are threatening your life. When the belt of a particularly high ranking soldier is taken, it can be akin to taking the Championship Belt of a high-ranked fighter in today's world.

CHARACTERS

Osmon Company: Osmon Company is led by Zaine Jacob Osmon, a noble-born soldier in the Republic of Pakistani Army. Following a challenge of court politics in Pakistan, Zaine ascends to rulership of the country, and eventually establishes the Warrior State of Kshatriyastan, eventually hoping to evolve the country into the Caliphate. Zaine is the central figure of his group of 8 characters. Zaine clearly hopes to establish the Caliphate in the same way that Hakeem Khalid did 150 years ago. Osmon Company is clearly backed by Kshatriyastan.

Tomoe Company: Tomoe Company is led by Lauren "Ren" Matilda Tomoe, the daughter of French and Asian parents in France. She travels all across Europe and Asia for 7 years, and eventually makes her way to the Americas in the path of a Mercenary Wave. There, she is enslaved, but bought by a just Lord, and her future lover, named Hakeem Al-Thalib. The two of them gather a small group of trusted friends, and head to Asia in order to create a "Peaceful Mercenary Group," focused on rebuilding villages and providing infrastructure. In this way, Tomoe wishes to atone for her sins as a mercenary. Tomoe Company gains the backing of the African Empire.

Diplomacy/Khalid Brothers: The Khalid Brothers, Kareem, Malik, Shareef, and Shaquille Al-Thalib, left North America and took on the name "Khalid" in honor of Hakeem Khalid. They had hoped to provide their services to Lords and Ladies in Lower Asia and bring the remnant together, but they were frustrated and unsuccessful, eventually falling under the rulership of the Emperor of Kumari Kundam. After being experimented on and trained brutally by the Emperor, they become the core of his top black ops group, Diplomacy. However, they are ambitious, and wish to usurp rule from the Emperoer. The Khalid Brothers have the backing of Kumari Kundam.

Elemental Ladies: Eventually a fourth group of 8 people appear, the Elemental Ladies. The Elemental Ladies are made up of minority ethnicities from all around the world, and were experimented on from an early age to become powerful soldiers, and to be able to give birth to equally powerful soldiers. This project was undertaken by a shadowy organization of people who had decided to take things into their own hands. The ironic thing is, though, before they could strike at the throat of the current situation, they were destroyed by the Elemental Ladies. The Ladies would then become entirely autonomous, and search for their place in the world.

STORY OUTLINE

Part 0: Pieces
-This is basically the backstories of the characters in the game. The main focus is on the head characters of the story. The focus is on the 1 Zaine, the 2 Ren and Hakeem, the 4 Khalid Brothers, and the 8 Elemental Ladies.
Part 1: Khalifa al-Athar (Successor of Shadows)
-This part focuses on what brings the 4 groups together, and then their first deeds, as related to each other. Tomoe Company forms as a wish for Ren to atone for crimes he perpetrated as a mercenary in Asia, while Osmon Company forms as a combination of Zaine's magnetic ambition and the wish of his allies for a more satisfying life. The Khalid Brothers and Diplomacy perpetrate horrible acts in the name of their Emperor, and serve as the main villains. They enter into conflict with Tomoe and Osmon, and are eventually "killed." This Part ends with Hakeem kidnapped by a strange group of people, Zaine officially forming Kshatiryastan, and the clash that "kills" Diplomacy.
VILLAIN:
-The Khalid Brothers.
Part 2: Petros (The Rock)
-Tomoe Company has campaigned for a year all over Africa, liberating people from the "Essenes," a mysterious group of people centered on their fortress capital of "Petros" in South America. Ren, in frustration , is captured by the Essenes, and serves them in the hopes of finding her lover, Hakeem, leaving Tomoe Company somewhat leaderless. The Grand Master of the Essenes takes a liking to Hakeem and Tomoe, and begins an obsession with Hakeem. Hakeem is eventually found, and rejoins Tomoe Company. They eventually fight the Grand Master herself at Petros, and destroy the fortress.
-Osmon Company is busy consolidating Kshatriyastan, and enters into conflict with Kumari Kundam. They learn that Kumari Kundam is allied to the Essenes and has been giving them some of their advanced technology. Osmon Company forms an alliance with Tomoe Company in order to scout the Essenes and learn more about Kumari Kundam.
-The Khalid Brothers are not dead, and have slowly pulled together a group of their allies. The Emperor believes them to be dead, or so they think, and they attempt a coup at his capital, but fail. The Khalid Brothers are then forced to become the open Generals of the Emperor in his war against Kshatriyastan.
VILLAINS:
-The Essenes
-Secondary: Emperor of Kumari Kundam
Part 3: Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Law)
-Osmon Company returns from the campaign against the Essenes and decides to wage outright war with Kumari Kundam. Having an advantage due to their knowledge of Kundam's technology, as well as possessing it, their war leaves many scars in South Asia. The Emperor of Kumari Kundam wishes to annihilate the Caliphate Remnant, which angers Zaine even more. Osmon Company eventually heads to Kumari Kundam to assassinate the Emperor.
-The Khalid Brothers secretly gather their allies in Kumari Kundam, and plan a coup. While now being the Generals of Kumari Kundam, the Khalids declare allegiance to the Emperor. They decide to make a quick and hasty alliance with Osmon Company and assassinate the Emperor, and take control of Kumari Kundam, laying the blame of the assassination on Kshatriyastan.
-Tomoe Company is stuck in the middle of the Kshatriyastan-Kumari Kundam conflict as they attempt to keep South Asia safe in the face of war. They eventually join the Collective Union, a patchwork group of nations that bands together to keep safe from Kshatriyastan and Kumari Kundam. When the city of Ibrahim wishes to join them, things become tense.
VILLAINS:
-Emperor of Kumari Kundam
-Secondary: Shadow Caliphate
Part 4: Athar (Shadow)
-Following the destruction of the coup, all sides enter a state of uncertainty and shadows. The Khalid Brothers continue the declaration of war upon Kshatriyastan, but an uneasy truce between the two nations allow them to rebuild. During this interim period, Kareem Khalid announces that he wishes to become the next Caliph. In order to do so, they enlist their fifth brother, Hakeem to help them wrest control of South Asia, especially it's crown jewel, the old Imperial capitol city of Ibrahim.
-Tomoe Company is relieved at the uneasy peace, and focuses on rebuilding and strengthening efforts in Lower Asia. Ibrahim wishes to join the Collective Union, which heavily worries the current Caliphate centered on Baghdad in the Middle East. However, due to Kareem announcing his open desire to rule the Muslim world, the Company scrambles to protect Ibrahim. Whosoever holds Ibrahim could be seen as the legitimate Caliph.
-Osmon Company is almost pushed to the side by the Khalid Brothers' announcement, so Zaine quickly follows suit and announces his pursuit of the Caliphate. Although they need to take Ibrahim, a new threat rears it's head in the form of the Anarchist Elemental Ladies.
-The Elemental Ladies have emerged from somewhere in Russia, and head to Lower Asia in search of clues of their origins, as well as what they see as an imbalance; too much law and conflict in a world that doesn't need it.
VILLAINS:
-Caliphate al-Athar
Part 5: Middle Road

Part 6: Finality

I'm no writing master, but decide who will be your main character(s) first, before you work on the minor characters.

A huge story can be a very daunting task. I know what it's like to have a bunch of scenes in my head and not quite know what order they go in. I don't know how huge you plan on making your story, but what I find works for me is if I break down that huge story into smaller stories.

Take your typical anime, for example- while most of the major ones have a huge plot, they break it down into smaller Arcs. The Majin Buu and Namek Arcs of Dragon Ball Z are a good example of this.